Looking for a gear ratio to put some power down range
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Lavalette, West Virginia
Looking for a gear ratio to put some power down range
I currently have a 95 f150 with the efi 300 in it, and a 5 speed tranny. My stock gear in the rearend is a 2.73. I know this engine is known for being torqey. And the truck just doesnt have much acceleration to it at all, or torque for that matter. Any suggestions? By the way I am getting about 18-19 Mpg. And I would like to keep as much economy as I can, but still ad some play power to it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
is this a 2wd or 4wd truck
get an 8.8 rear end out of a truck or bronco that had a v8 in it. most if not all would be a 3.55 gear ratio and would be an improvment with out killing mpg. this should cost less then $200 and 1-2hrs worth of your labor swapping it with your current rear differential.
get an 8.8 rear end out of a truck or bronco that had a v8 in it. most if not all would be a 3.55 gear ratio and would be an improvment with out killing mpg. this should cost less then $200 and 1-2hrs worth of your labor swapping it with your current rear differential.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Freehold
Changing the gears will not help your fuel economy, either you get power or economy. The closest mix to a good medium would be 3.55's. Expect if you were getting 18-19mpg to get about 13-16ish.
If you buy smaller tires it would do the same thing tho.
If you buy smaller tires it would do the same thing tho.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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My truck came with 3.08 gears. Thats a poor combination for the 5.0, so I went the salvage yard route to get 3.55 LS. My truck really needs at least 3.73, but Ford didn't offer it.
For the I6, I would go with 3.55. I don't think it will change your mpg. My last truck was an I6. It always averaged about 16-17 mpg with the 3.08 and with better gears. Just don't go wild with 4.10 or something.
Are you running factory tires? If so something like the 3.08 or 3.31 would probably bet better suited for the I6.
For the I6, I would go with 3.55. I don't think it will change your mpg. My last truck was an I6. It always averaged about 16-17 mpg with the 3.08 and with better gears. Just don't go wild with 4.10 or something.
Are you running factory tires? If so something like the 3.08 or 3.31 would probably bet better suited for the I6.
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From: Lafayette, IN
Jason
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
You're in Virginia so I'm guessing it's not totally flat in all directions and there are hills to climb, and if so 3.55's will work much better eliminating the clutch slipping you currently need to do to move from a dead stop and it will also give you full use of all 5 gears in the transmission.. something you probably never do right now except on the freeway.
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There's another member on here, who had played around with different combinations on his 300 powered truck for a while. His best combo seems to be the NP435 and 2.73 rear. Still has enough torque when using the granny 1st to pull stuff. 4th gear with the NP435 and 2.73 rear is probaby similar to having an Overdrive 5th and 3.55 rear.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...xperiment.html
If you want to swap the rear end, I say go with 3.55. I have 3.55 gears in my 300 powered truck with the 5 speed and it works nicely but I have 4 Lo if I ever needed to yank something. If I had a 2wd I'd still want a granny gear for use with the 300 but that's just me
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...xperiment.html
If you want to swap the rear end, I say go with 3.55. I have 3.55 gears in my 300 powered truck with the 5 speed and it works nicely but I have 4 Lo if I ever needed to yank something. If I had a 2wd I'd still want a granny gear for use with the 300 but that's just me
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Joe Kucinski
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Eastern Ky
My truck came with 3.08 gears. Thats a poor combination for the 5.0, so I went the salvage yard route to get 3.55 LS. My truck really needs at least 3.73, but Ford didn't offer it.
For the I6, I would go with 3.55. I don't think it will change your mpg. My last truck was an I6. It always averaged about 16-17 mpg with the 3.08 and with better gears. Just don't go wild with 4.10 or something.
Are you running factory tires? If so something like the 3.08 or 3.31 would probably bet better suited for the I6.
For the I6, I would go with 3.55. I don't think it will change your mpg. My last truck was an I6. It always averaged about 16-17 mpg with the 3.08 and with better gears. Just don't go wild with 4.10 or something.
Are you running factory tires? If so something like the 3.08 or 3.31 would probably bet better suited for the I6.
Well, based off of what Bill, aka 6CylBill reported to me....
His 1995 F-150 4x2 Flairside, 300/E4OD, with a 4.11 w/ a locker unit...
That if he grandpa drove the truck, just let it pull its' self, and not force it....He could get 18-19mpg highway.....And around 15-16 around town...
AGAIN, he mentioned he wasn't driving it hard...Just barely using the throttle...
Take this how you will....But I have confidence in what said.....
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Lavalette, West Virginia
Hey sidewinder do you know what size tires bill is using? I have confidence on what you said. Actually I have been following your alls eaton m90 thread on supercharging the bigblock 6 
There is some good information there that is hard to find. And do you know what his RPM's are at 70mph with the 4.11 I could imagine they are high.
There is some good information there that is hard to find. And do you know what his RPM's are at 70mph with the 4.11 I could imagine they are high.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
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From: Eastern Ky
Hey sidewinder do you know what size tires bill is using? I have confidence on what you said. Actually I have been following your alls eaton m90 thread on supercharging the bigblock 6 There is some good information there that is hard to find. And do you know what his RPM's are at 70mph with the 4.11 I could imagine they are high.
There is some good information there that is hard to find. And do you know what his RPM's are at 70mph with the 4.11 I could imagine they are high.Thanks 300ci, for the following of the thread...I need to do some more research for it...
As for Bills' tires.....Here's a lil back story-
1)When I first met him on here, he had 31" x 10.50" tires, and he was getting 12-13ish mpg in town, and about 15-16 on highway....
That was with his 4.11 gear/locker, and the odometer not calibrated to the bigger tires....
2) After quite a few discussions about tires, treads, stiffness, etc...And the ol' money issues... He went with Goodyear 235/75/15's (Factory size) and he did a bit of testing, ~200 miles, and the numbers were consistent....
15-16mpg city/ 17-19mpg highway......Same drivetrain......
NOW....
As far as RPM's goes...I'm not really sure, to be honest....I'm WANTING to say, that he mention @ 70mph....He was ~1,900-2,000......I MAY be wrong, its been a while since I've spoken to Bill...(Reminds me to call him...lol)
I'll have him to have a look into thise thread, update some things, etc....
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 54
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From: america
interesting thread. I'm running the V6 in a 2000 F150 with a 3.55 rear & manual 5 speed; getting 12 mpg in town and 16 on the highway. i'm going to change the axle ratio, but i really want to see the torque curve for this engine first. anyone know where i can get it?
Last edited by joethef150guy; Oct 1, 2011 at 01:59 PM. Reason: misspelled ratio